Formula 1 completed its final race of its 2023 season at the Yas Marina Circuit, capping off a record-breaking season for a certain team and driver.
Verstappen reaches 1000 laps led in a season
Max Verstappen won the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The win at the Yas Marina Circuit was his 19th win of the season - meaning that he only missed out on the in three races (Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan and Singapore).
The three-time world champion broke many records in 2023. The Dutchman recorded the most wins in a season (19), whilst having the highest winning percentage (86.3%).
The Red Bull driver also broke Sebastian Vettel's record of consecutive race victories (nine), securing 10 in a row - starting from Miami and ending in Monza.
Despite AlphaTauri driver Yuki Tsunoda leading a few laps, Verstappen was still able to reach 1000 laps led throughout the 2023 season - an astonishing achievement by the 26-year-old.
Read another article here: Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Preview: A Spectacle of Speed and Strategy
Mercedes edge Ferrari
Mercedes went into the final round at Abu Dhabi four points ahead of Ferrari in the constructors' championship. The difference of the positions was $10 million prize money and the position in the pitlane for next year, resulting in both team wanting to secure second in the championship.
It would go to the Silver Arrow's way by three points. Although Charles Leclerc, impressively, managed to achieve a second place finish, George Russell was able to secure his second podium finish of the year - when it mattered the most - finishing third.
Lewis Hamilton had a difficult race, finishing in ninth. However, Carlos Sainz would struggle even more that the Mercedes driver. The Spaniard started the race from 16th - being knocked out in Q1 - and did not have the pace to cut his way through the field. The Ferrari driver would have a disappointing race, finishing in 18th.
Read another article here: The story so far: Yuki Tsunoda
Williams clinch P7 despite impressive Tsunoda
Williams had stopped developing their FW44 car way before AlphaTauri stopped with their AT04. That left the Grove-based team struggling to secure points towards the latter end of the season.
Williams team principal James Vowles admitted that he was concerned as Tsunoda was running within the top six for a bit of the race. The Japanese driver qualified sixth in an impressive qualifying session.
The 23-year-old even led part of the race, running longer on the medium tyre. However, some believed that running longer on the medium hurt his race. The AlphaTauri driver needed to finish sixth - without Williams scoring any points - to help the Faenza team get seventh in the constructors' championship.
However, Tsunoda could not do it despite his best efforts. He would end the race in eighth - an impressive drive from the Japanese driver on his team principal Franz Tost's last race for the team.
William were nowhere to be seen in the points with the FW44 clearly being affected from not having any upgrades to the car. Alex Albon finished in 14th and Logan Sargeant finished in 16th.
Nathan Hartley
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